hayfkins



' March s, 1927.

l 1,619,932 W. W. HAWKNS BRE-A111111 MEGHANISM FOR IGNITION MAGNETos Filed Deo. 14. 1921 Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES AT-N'l 'FICE.

WILLIAM- W. HAWKINS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 WEBSTER ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF RACNE, WSCGNSIN, A COREORATON OF `WISCONSIN.

BREAKER MECHANISM FOR IGNITON MAGNETOS.

Application filed December 14, 1921.

My invention relates to a breakerinechanism that is particularly adapted tor use in connection `vith a high tension magneto of either the rotary or oscillating type.

Among its objects, my invention contempla-,tes

First: The provision of a magneto breaker mechanism wherein the interrupt/er contacts are' opened very quickly, irrespective et the speed off the magneto rotor;

Second; The provision '0f a magneto breaker mechanism which is particularly .Suitable for use in ConllGOIl With 2111 OSCllating magneto, because the interrupter contacts are opened .during the cocling movement of the rotor, closed during the recoil or generating movement ot the rotor, and opened at the end of the recoil movement 0f the fOtQr, Seratim.;

Third: The provision of a breaker mechanism that is of sturdy construction and economical to llauacture.

Other Objects and advantages ot my nvention will appear as the following detailed description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention- Figure 1 is an elevational view of the mechanism of my invention, and

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof'.

Referring to the drauf'ing', reference numeral 10 indicates the rotor shaft ot a rotary or oscillating magneto (not shown) said shaft being provided with a cam 11. The cam 11 may be integral with the rotor shatt or may be attached thereto in any suitable or Well-known manner. it 12 is indicated a plate adapted to be secured to the magneto framework by Vbolts (not shown) which engage in the magneto trame and extend through arcuate slots 13-13 in plate 12. It will be noted that slots 13-13 are concentric with aperture 11i, which receives the magneto shatt'. ,This arrangement permits plate 12 to be adjusted angularly With respect to the magneto shatttvlien occasion requires'.

The stationary and movable contacts are indicated at 1 5 and 16 respectively. The stationary Contact is carried by a block 1'?,

Serial No. 522,434.

which is insulated trom plate 12 by dielectric material 18. rthe movable Contact is Carried by, and adjustably mounted in, an arm 19 which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 19L which projects lateraliy from plate 12. A leat spring 2O normally tends to move the contact 16 into engagement With contact 15, one end ot spring 2O being attached to arm 19, the other end ofsaid spring being attached to a fixed blocl; 21.

At 22 is indicated a reciprocating` hammer which normally engages arm 19 and holds the contacts and 16 Separated. Hammer 22 is mounted for reciprocating movement in bearings 23 and 2e, A co1nparatively heavy compression spring 25 normally holds the hammer in the position illustrated in Figure 1, one end of said conipression spring abutting against bearing 23, the other end ot said spring engaging hammer shoulder 26. The hammer is pro- `vided with an odset portion 27, which is guided by a iXed biturcated member 28. Offset portion 27 is provided with a cam surface 29, the purpose of which will presently appear. IPivotally mounted on pin 19a, but being independent ot arm 19, is a lever 80. A U-shaped spring 31 acts against lever 30, and normally tends to turn same in a counter-clockwise direction (Figure 1). @ne end ot said spring 31 is at tached to the adjacent end of the lever, and the other end oit said spring is attached to a fixed block 32. The longer arm of lever SO is provided with a piroted linger 33, with which is associated a light lect' spring Bel. Spring 34 is adapted to yield to permit tinger 33 to slip downwardly rclf` to the lower end ot' hammer portion 2"?, when lever moves under the influence ot its associated springl 31.

The ignition circuit, including the magneto windings, has been diagrannnaticallv illustrated. r1"he magneto generating Winding is illustrated atk 35, and the secondary at 36. At 97 is illustrated a spark gap (spark plug) which is connected with the secondary in the usual manner. A condenser is indicated at 38. The insulated terminal of the primary is connected with stationary interrupter contact 15, and the other side of the primary is grounded to the movable contact in the usual manner.

Now let us assume that the breaker mechanism of my invention is associated with an oscillating magneto, and that the rotor shaft has been illustrated in its recoiled position in Figure l. IVe shall also assume that when the rotor shaft is cocked the cam ll turns in a counter-clockwise direction (Figure l). is soon as the cam clears the adjacent portion of the lever 30, the said lever moves in a counter-clockwise direction (Figure l) under the iniiuence of spring 3l, the spring 3st at this time yielding to permitfinger 33 to .snap past thelowerend of the offset portion of the hammer. The contacts l5 and 16 remain separated during the cocking movement. Now let us assume that the magneto is tripped and that the magneto rotor and the cam Il move rapidly in a clockwise direction (Figure 1'). Very quickly after the commencement of the recoil movement, the cam ll engages the short arm of lever 30, and turns said lever in a clockwise direction, (Figure l). The iinger 33 in this case bears against the cam surface 29 ofthe hammer portion 27, and moves the hammer to the left (Figure l) against the pressure of its associated spring 25.V rIhe contacts now close, and a current Wave begins to build up inthe primary Winding 35. At the instant this wave attains the maximum, finger 33 slips off the cam surface 29 of the hammer and permits the hammerto snap rapidly to the right (Figure l) under the influence of its associated spring, the hammer engaging the movable contact arm 2O and opening the contacts to cause the genration of aphigh tension current in the secondary 36, and the passing of a spark at the gap 37. The operation just described occurs once for each cycle of magneto operation.

lVhile for the purpose of this specification I have assumed that my improved breaker mechanism is associated with a high tension magnetoof the well-known oscillating type, it will of course be understood that my invention is equally applicable to high tension magnetos of the rotary type.

Having thus illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself to the specific arrangement of parts herein shown and described, but wish to cover other embodiments of the invention defined by the appended claims.

IVhat I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A breaker mechanism for an ignition magneto comprising a stationary contact, a movable contact, a pivoted contact arm by which the movable contact is carried, spring means normally urging the contact carrying arm into a' position where the contacts are in engagement, a hammer, spring means normally tending to hold the hammer in a position where it engages the contact carrying arm and holds the Contact separated against the pressure of the spring associated with said Contact carrying arm, said hammer provided with a cam surface, a lever adapted to be operated by the magneto rotor shaft, said lever adapted to move in one direction without moving said hammer, said lastmentioned lever provided with a finger, said finger when moved in one direction adapted to cock the hammer against the influence of its associated spring means, and then to release it substantially as and for the purpose set forth'. e

2. A breaker mechanismfor an ignition magneto comprising a stationary'contact, a movable contact, a pivoted contact arm by which the movable Contact is carried, spring means normally urging the contact carrying arm into a position where the'contiacts are in engagement, a hammer, spring means normally tending to hold the hammer in a position where it engages the contact carrying arm and holds the contact separated against the pressure of the spring associatedrwith said contact carrying arm, said hammer provided with a cam surface, and means operated by the magneto rotor shaft adapted to move in one direction without moving said hammer and when moved in the opposite direction adapted to cock the hammer against the influence of its associated spring means and then release-it.

3. In a breaker mechanism-for an ignition magneto, a' stationary contact, a movable contact, a pivoted arm' by which said movable contact is carried, spring means associated with said arm and normally tending to move the movable contact into engagement with the stationary contact, a. hammer, spring means bearing against the hammer and normally tending to hold same in engagement with the contact carrying arm and in such position that the contactsVv are held separated against the pressure of the spring associated with the contact arm, and a lever adapted to be operated by the magneto rotor shaft, said lever adapted to move in one direction without moving said hammer, said last mentioned lever provided with a finger, said finger when moved in one direction adapted to cock the hammer against the influence of its associated spring means and then to release it substantially as and for the purpose set forth. Y

t. In a breaker mechanism, stationary and movable contacts, a spring normally tending to cause the movable contact to engage the stationary contact, a spring actuated hammer which normally assumes a position wherein it holds the movable contact vout of engagement with the stationary Contact, and a lever adapted to be operated by the magneto rotor shaft and to move in one direction Without moving said hammer and to move in another direction to cook the hammer against the action of its associated spring means and to release it, the movable out or" engagement with the stationary contact by said hammer When the latter is released.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8 day of December, 1921.

WM. W. HAVKINS. 

